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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments
In connection with the acquisition of certain Kristalose assets during 2011, the Company was required to make quarterly payments based on a percentage of Kristalose net sales through November 2018. The payments are being treated as consideration for the assets acquired, and are being capitalized and amortized over the remaining expected useful life of the acquired asset, currently through 2026.
In connection with its licensing agreements for Caldolor, Ethyol, and Totect, the Company is required to pay royalties based on net sales over the life of the contracts. Royalty expense is recognized as a component of selling and marketing expense in the period that revenue is recognized.
In connection with the acquisition of Vibativ, the Company is required to pay royalties based on net sales of the product. At the purchase date, Cumberland recorded the fair value of this liability and will continue to evaluate the liability each period and the royalty expense is recognized as a component of selling and marketing expense in the period that the change in fair value is recognized.
Legal Matters
In April 2012, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “USPTO”) issued U.S. Patent number 8,148,356 (the “356 Acetadote Patent”) which is assigned to the Company. The claims of the 356 Acetadote Patent encompass the new Acetadote formulation and include composition of matter claims. Following its issuance, the 356 Acetadote Patent was listed in the FDA Orange Book. The 356 Acetadote Patent is scheduled to expire in May 2026, which time period includes a 270-day patent term adjustment granted by the USPTO.
Following the issuance of the 356 Acetadote Patent, the Company received separate Paragraph IV certification notices from InnoPharma, Inc. ("InnoPharma"), Paddock Laboratories, LLC (“Paddock”), Mylan Institutional LLC (“Mylan”), Sagent Agila LLC ("Sagent") and Perrigo Company ("Perrigo") challenging the 356 Acetadote Patent on the basis of non-infringement and/or invalidity. The Company responded by filing five separate infringement lawsuits, in the appropriate United States District Courts, to contest each of the challenges.
On November 12, 2012, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with Paddock and Perrigo to resolve the challenges and the pending litigation with those two companies. On November 1, 2013, the United States District Court filed opinions granting Sagent’s and InnoPharma’s motions to dismiss the Company's suits and the Company agreed not to file an appeal or motion to reconsider, thereby resolving the challenges and the pending litigation with those two companies.
Under the Settlement Agreement, Paddock and Perrigo admit that the 356 Acetadote Patent is valid and enforceable and that any Paddock or Perrigo generic version of Acetadote (with or without EDTA) would infringe upon the 356 Acetadote Patent. In addition, Paddock and Perrigo will not challenge the validity, enforceability, ownership or patentability of the 356 Acetadote Patent through its expiration currently scheduled for May 2026. On November 12, 2012, in connection with the execution of the Settlement Agreement, Cumberland entered into a License and Supply Agreement with Paddock and Perrigo (the “License and Supply Agreement”). Under the terms of the License and Supply Agreement, if a third party receives final approval from the FDA for an ANDA to sell a generic Acetadote product and such third party has made such generic version available for purchase in commercial quantities in the United States, the Company supply's Perrigo with an Authorized Generic version of its Acetadote product.
On May 18, 2012, Cumberland also submitted a Citizen Petition to the FDA requesting that the FDA refrain from approving any applications for acetylcysteine injection that contain EDTA, based in part on the FDA's request that the Company evaluate the reduction or removal of EDTA from its original Acetadote formulation. On November 7, 2012, the FDA responded to the Citizen Petition denying its request and stating that ANDAs referencing Acetadote that contain EDTA may be accepted and approved provided they meet all applicable requirements. The Company believes this response contradicts the FDA's request to evaluate the reduction or removal of EDTA. On November 8, 2012, the Company learned that the FDA approved the ANDA referencing Acetadote filed by InnoPharma, Inc. On November 3, 2012, Cumberland brought suit against the FDA in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that the FDA's denial of our Citizen Petition and acceptance for review and approval of any InnoPharma, Inc. product containing EDTA was arbitrary and in violation of law.
The Company found during the resulting legal proceedings that the FDA initially concluded that the original Acetadote formulation was withdrawn for safety reasons and no generic versions should be approved. The FDA later reversed its position based on the possibility of drug shortages and the presence of EDTA in other formulations. At the same time, the FDA noted that exclusively marketing a non-EDTA containing product would be preferable because it would eliminate the potential risk of EDTA.
On January 7, 2013, Perrigo announced initial distribution of Cumberland's Authorized Generic acetylcysteine injection product.
On March 19, 2013, the USPTO issued U.S. Patent number 8,399,445 (the “445 Acetadote Patent”) which is also assigned to Cumberland. The claims of the 445 Acetadote Patent encompass the use of the 200 mg/ml Acetadote formulation to treat patients with acetaminophen overdose. On April 8, 2013, the 445 Acetadote Patent was listed in the FDA Orange Book. The 445 Acetadote Patent is scheduled to expire in August 2025. Following the issuance of the 445 Acetadote Patent Cumberland received separate Paragraph IV certification notices from Perrigo, Sagent, and Mylan Institutional LLC challenging the 445 Acetadote Patent on the basis of non-infringement, unenforceability and/or invalidity.
On June 10, 2013, The Company became aware of a Paragraph IV certification notice from Akorn, Inc. challenging the 445 Acetadote Patent and the 356 Acetadote Patent on the basis of non-infringement. On July 12, 2013, Cumberland filed a lawsuit for infringement of the 356 Acetadote Patent against Akorn, Inc. in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
On June 10, 2013, the Company announced that the FDA approved updated labeling for Acetadote. The new labeling revises the product's indication and offers new dosing guidance for specific patient populations.
On September 30, 2013, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia filed an opinion granting a Summary Judgment in favor of the FDA regarding Cumberland’s November 13, 2012 suit.  On November 1, 2013, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware filed opinions granting Sagent’s and InnoPharma’s motions to dismiss its May 2012 and June 2012 suits.
On February18, 2014, the USPTO issued U.S. Patent number 8,653,061 (the “061 Acetadote Patent”) which is assigned to the Company. The claims of the 061 Acetadote Patent encompass the use of the 200 mg/ml Acetadote formulation to treat patients with acetaminophen overdose. Following its issuance, the 061 Acetadote Patent was listed in the FDA Orange Book. The 061 Acetadote Patent is scheduled to expire in August 2025.
On May 13, 2014, the USPTO issued U.S. Patent number 8,722,738 (the “738 Acetadote Patent”) which is assigned to Cumberland. The claims of the 738 Acetadote Patent encompass administration methods of acetylcysteine injection, without specification of the presence or lack of EDTA in the injection. Following its issuance, the 738 Acetadote Patent was listed in the FDA Orange Book and it is scheduled to expire in April 2032.
On December 11, 2014 and March 3, 2015, the Company became aware of Paragraph IV certification notices from Aurobindo Pharma Limited and Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc., respectively, challenging the 356, 445, 061, and 738 Acetadote Patents on the basis of non-infringement.
By statute, where the Paragraph IV certification is to a patent timely listed before an Abbreviated New Drug Application (“ANDA”) is filed, a company has 45 days to institute a patent infringement lawsuit during which period the FDA may not approve another application. In addition, such a lawsuit for patent infringement filed within such 45-day period may stay, or bar, the FDA from approving another product application for two and a half years or until a district court decision that is adverse to the asserted patents, whichever is earlier.
On February 10, 2015, the USPTO issued U.S. Patent number 8,952,065 (the “065 Acetadote Patent”) which is assigned to us. The claims of the 065 Acetadote Patent encompass the use of the 200 mg/ml Acetadote formulation to treat patients with acute liver failure. The 065 Acetadote Patent is scheduled to expire in August 2025.
On September 30, 2015, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division ("District Court") ruled in our favor in our lawsuit against Mylan for infringement of the 445 Acetadote Patent.  The opinion upheld our 445 Acetadote Patent and expressly rejected Mylan's validity challenge.   The District Court ruled that Mylan is liable to us for infringement of the 445 Acetadote patent in light of Mylan's Abbreviated New Drug Application in which Mylan sought to market a generic version of Acetadote. On November 17, 2015, the District Court entered an order enjoining Mylan and its affiliates from selling or using its generic version of Acetadote until August 2025, the date of expiration of the 445 Acetadote Patent. On October 30, 2015, Mylan filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the "Appeals Court").
On May 3, 2016, the USPTO issued U.S. Patent number 9,327,028 (the “028 Acetadote Patent”) which is assigned to us. The claims of the 028 Acetadote Patent encompass administration methods of acetylcysteine injection, without specification of the presence or lack of EDTA in the injection. Following its issuance, the 028 Acetadote Patent was listed in the FDA Orange Book and it is scheduled to expire in July 2031.
On January 26, 2017, the Appeals Court affirmed the District Court ruling in the Company's favor in its lawsuit against Mylan for infringement of the 445 Acetadote Patent. The Appeals Court opinion affirmed the District Court’s ruling upholding Cumberland's 445 Acetadote Patent and expressly rejected Mylan's validity challenge.
On November 3, 2017, the Company became aware of a Paragraph IV certification notice from Exela Pharma Sciences, LLC challenging the 356, 445, 061, 738, and 028 Acetadote Patents on the basis of non-infringement.
The Company continues to consider its legal options and intends to continue to vigorously defend and protect its Acetadote product and related intellectual property rights.
The Company is a party to various other legal proceedings in the ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, the liability associated with these matters, other than the issue concerning the Company's Acetadote patents discussed above, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.